Over twenty years ago I did a deal with Microsoft. I can write about the deal now because the company I was at no longer exists and it was the deal of deals. It basically meant I didn't need to go into to work again. I did, but I didn't have to if I didn't want to, but I was young. And I fluked the deal. It was only when I sat down with the MD and he told me about what was coming that I appreciated what I'd done. But it was an accident.
I was basically getting paid my annual salary every month in bonus. And at that age, you know what happened. I didn't have someone telling me what to do but I had the time of my life. I put some of it away but not nearly as much as I could or should have. And I threw so much of it away.
I write about this, because it really was an accident. When I offered the service and they accepted it, I didn't know what was going to happen. What basically happened was the company I worked for ended up having millions of pound transferred into their bank account every month and sometimes it could stay in the account for two or three months. And for every penny that ended up in the account we charged a percentage. The percentage never changed and we could put it into any type of account we wanted. It turns out we did. I'd have felt guilty if I really knew what was happening even though I didn't need to.
It was an accident guv, honest
And I hold my hands up to it and I'm not ashamed to admit I made easy money. Others had to work hard and it fell into my lap by mistake. But at the time, I'd have had people believe I was the best thing since sliced bread. At the time, I know I actually acted like I was the best sales guy ever and I acted like it was a plan. Only the MD knew I didn't have a clue, but he was and remains a legend to this day and he'd never have said anything. And yes, he invested the money wisely.
I can say this because it was then. Tim Sherwood can't. Neither can Tom Fox. Both of them have to act like they know what they're doing. This is the problem with Aston Villa. And it's a massive massive problem at the moment.